Uvalde: At least 19 children were killed Tuesday after a gunman opened fire at a Texas elementary school in the deadliest shooting at a US grade school since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, almost a decade ago.
State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who said he had been briefed by state police, informed that the death toll also included three adults. However, it was not immediately clear whether that number included the gunman.
US President Joe Biden addressed the nation hours after the massacre where he called for new gun restrictions. “As a nation we have to ask, when in God’s name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby? When in God’s name are we going to do what has to be done?” Biden asked.
Messages of condolences, grief, and anger have been pouring in since the attack. US officials, members of Congress and other prominent Americans reacted to the Texas school shooting.
The White House ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in mourning for the victims — whose deaths sent a wave of shock through a country still scarred by the horror of Sandy Hook. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, Robb Elementary — which teaches more than 500, mostly Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students — called on parents not to rush in to get their children.”You will be notified to pick up students once all are accounted for,” the school said on its website soon after the attack.